The Protestant religion truely stated and justified by the late Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter ; prepared for the press some time before his death ; whereunto is added, by way of preface, some account of the learned author, by Mr. Danel Williams and Mr. Matthew Sylvester.

The Seven and Twentieth accused Point.

That the Holy Angels pray not for us, nor know our Thoughts and desires on Earth.

Ans. A false accusation. We say not that they pray not for us, nor that they know not our desires, nor any of our Thoughts. We say that Angels are no such Strangers to Saints and sincere Godli∣ness, as not to know that all Godly men de∣sire the Hallowing of Gods Name, the coming of his Kingdom, and the doing of his Will on Earth as it is done in Heaven: They that know what Grace is, and what our Prayers are, know much of our de∣sires: And we do not think that Angels know less of our Thoughts than Devils, who we feel to our Trouble are not alto∣gether

unacquainted with them. And those Angels that rejoyce at a Sinners Con∣version, are not unacquainted with it.

And as to their Praying, we know not how it is that Angels express their desires to God; but we all agree that they desire our welfare, and therefore may be said to pray for it, if all notified Desire be Prayer. We suppose that they know and Love us, far better than we know and Love each other.

But we read that the Heretical Gnosticks, or their like, did deceive men, [by Volunta∣ry Humility, and worshipping of Angels, in∣truding into those things which they had not seen, vainly puft up by a fleshly mind,] Col. 2.18, 19. Therefore we dare not pretend to Papal Infallibility, nor boldly to con∣jecture, how far it is that our Thoughts are known to Angels, nor how much they are ignorant of them; nor when, or how oft, or how far, or in what manner they pray for us: How far particularly, and how far only generally, &c. Had this knowledge been needful to us, God would have revealed it: Much less do we know what Angel of what departed Soul of a Saint hath the care or charge of our Sheep, and of our Cattel, and who of our Pigs and Geese, and who of our Fruits and

Corn; abundance of these things we leave to the Infallible Church: As we do their acquaintance in Purgatory, while our ac∣quaintance and Conversation in Heaven, can reach no higher than the prospect which we have in and by the Glass of Scrip∣ture Revelation.